Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1887-12-23
SWINDLERS ABROAD.
HOW AMERICANS ARE fLEECEO BY
THE WOMEN IN LONDON.


Away From-Sketches of Dark Life in
tho British Metropolis-A Bit of Ex-
perience.
Although the male swindler is dangerous
and much to be feared, it is the female of the
species that reaps the harvest. Protected by
her sex, the dissemination of man to pro-
coed against woman, the ease with which
she can blast the character of man by the
reason of the readiness we accept story
which attributes unholy lust to our fellow
creature, are all known factors to her in the
problem of making livelihood. Beginning
ut the lowest cass-the London street walker
you find them in London in larger num-
bers, holder and more persistent than in any
place III the world The larger number cruise
about the Criterion where there is a favorile
American bar After IL o'clock till l or 80
o'clock i'll the morning this congregation is
one of the sights of the city, and the traveller
generally sees it. His danger there is not
greater than in any other similar company,
unless he should be beguiled by some of these
midnight sirens. They are there by thou
sands, the sidewalks and even the street itself
filled with them and those who come to be
preyed upon, gided youth and hoary age,
chatting, laughing, swearing and singing in
one vast saturnalia in the midst of the most
boosted civilization. The "b6bbies" move
among them to keep everybody else moving
and watching for lawless outbreaks, of which
they have few to repress but other official
functions he does not assume
Turning from these the visitor, with much
new mat er for reflection, walks to his hotel
1t matters not III what direction it may be,
strange figures of women will fit across his
pathway, curious inquirng faces will be I'M
expectedly thrust into his own. and vague
forms standing in obscure corners will OBJ
serve him as he strays through the otherwise
deserted streets. Beware of the one who adj
dresses you. Do not reply il you can avoid
it, but under no circumstances stop and par
ley with her, for you invite one of the most
common dangers that London offers the
stranger within its gates.
Let me take an illustration furnished from
the private experiences of a gentleman from
Pttsburg who lodged in Russell square, and
who strolled home from the Gayety theater
by way of Drury lane and Bedford place
He had just turned into Bedford square when
he encountered woman standing hesitat-
ingly on the corner, peering in each direction
as one who had lost the way. II beg your
pardon, sir; can you tell me the way to the
Midland station9 | fear am lost" she said.
The polite American stopped. Yes, although
n stranger, he could and would tell her the
way-follow this street around Russell square
into Wo6urn place to st. Pancras' church
the first church on the right--turn to the
right there and the Midland station would be
in sight. He was walking part of the way
and would explain further. As they crossed
Bedford square they chatted easily until they
came to his lodgings, where he stopped and
said: you can't miss your way now"
"No," she replied. "Thank you, much
obliged; but you can't go in unless you give
me G5" And she got between him and the
door.
Five pounds, my good madaml What
for!"
Five pounds. You have beguiled me to
walk with you, assaulted me and tried to in
duce me to come to your rooms. Five pounds,
or scream for help" An invalid wife with
i'll, an urbs incognita without, a hasty
thought of the conditions, a hearty curse. a
smile from the lady, who pushed the crisp
note into her bosom, and our friend was
standing alone, perspilation falling like rain
from his forehead.
FRIENDS ADVICE.
The next day he told his friend, a London
friend, about it.
"Bless your transatlantic heart" said he,
"you do not suppose that such dangers
menace us Why, we live here. 1t is the
stranger who is preyed upon. Should
woman address you again and threaten to
scream you seize her by the wrist and tell her
to scream and you'll wait till the officers
come. She'll break away and run and you
must let her do tn
Sure enough he was soon waylaid again.
The question was for chemist shop, spoken
in tones so pregnant with grief and distress
that the American stopped despite his resolu-
ton never to exchange a word with the I'M
protected London female.
81 want n pound" said the woman. "Give
it to me or l will call for the police.n
"You call them" said the American, seiz-
ing her arm. 'rll hold you till they come"
And she did call, and the police came and es.
corted them both to the station house. The
inspector on duty entertained a cross charge
and locked them both up The magistrate in
tue morning fined the woman two and six.
and told the American his position was open
to a very reprehensible construction and he
had better look out. The American was so
mad that he paid the womans fine. deter
mined that justice snch as that should not
have the qualification of locking the woman
up. As a reward for all this the newspapers
all published report of the eccentric Amer
ican;" his wife got well enough to voyage
home on the Saturday Cunarder, and lie fol
lowed alone in the White Star ship on the
next Tuesday. 1t was months before they
made up, and now when on his visits to Lon
don, where his business frequently calls him,
he traverses its streets in close cab, and sets
well back in it, too
As matter of fact the American is not
favorab!y regarded in any capacity, whether
defendant or complainant, in the English
police courts,-London Cor. Philadelphia
Times.
The Georgia Picnic Kiss.
And after all there is no chance for i'm